In his visit last year, Xi won support from Sri Lanka and neighbouring Maldives for a new maritime "Silk Road," seen as a way of encircling India and controlling port access along sea lanes linking the energy-rich Gulf and economic centres in eastern China.

In contrast, Sirisena wants to balance Sri Lanka's China ties against those with India and chose New Delhi for his first official visit.

This month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi became the first Indian leader to visit Sri Lanka in 28 years.